KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Children's literature

The Brown Bookshelf Day 1 of 28 Days Later

The Brown Bookshelf, a group of African American children’s and young adult authors and illustrators, hosts it annual 28 Days Later.  28 Days Later showcases some of the best African American children’s and young adult authors and illustrators.

Day 1 features Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of human rights activists, the late Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz.  She is the author of Growing Up X and a children’s book, Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X.  Read more about Ms. Shabazz by clicking here.

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Children's literature

Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Later this month, the 2014 Coretta Scott King Book Award Committee will announce the authors and illustrators recipients.  “The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.  The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.”

I look forward to hearing the announcements.  This announcement, as well as others, are part of the American Library Association Youth Media Awards.  Many of us have called these awards the Academy Awards for authors and illustrators.  These award winning books and media not only honors the authors and illustrators, but also tells the world that these are books that should  be read.  

Some time ago, I challenged myself to read the honor and award books from the Coretta Scott King Book Awards list http://www.ala.org/emiert/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present   So I shall continue the challenge this year, and begin to read these books.  If you do not have a reading challenge, and there are many, you can certainly join me in this challenge!

Happy reading!

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature

2013 African American Fiction for Teens

elliottzetta's avatarFledgling

It’s that time of year again! Edi Campbell kindly gave me her list of 2013 books by PoC (people of color) and I pulled out the fiction books by Black authors (middle grade and young adult). As always, if you see that we’ve missed a title, please let us know. I have not added titles from Saddleback Educational Publishing, a press devoted to hi-lo fiction for teens. You can find Saddelback’s Black authors on our 2011 and 2012 lists. Two of the titles are reprints. Walter Dean Myers, outgoing National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, had a good year with 3 titles; Amar’e Stoudemire and Kelli London had 2 titles each, as did Ni-Ni Simone and Amir Abrams. How many of the remaining authors made their debut in 2013? Less than ten, by my count. According to a recent article in New York Magazine, there were over…

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KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Resources

Happy Birthday, Zora Neale Hurston!!!!

Zora Neale Hurston was born on January 7.  She was a novelist, folklorist, and short story writer, who claimed Eatonville, Florida as her birthplace. Although she is well known for her novel is “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, she has written other works as well, such as “Mule Bone”, “Jonah’s Gourd Vine”, “Moses, Man of the Mountain”, to name a few.

A couple of resources on this influential writer include:  http://zoranealehurston.com, http://www.biography.com/people/zora-neale-hurston-9347659

Every year in Eatonville, Florida, there is a Zora Neale Hurston festival.  Now celebrating its 25 year, this year’s festival is a weeklong celebration featuring celebrities, workshops, special events and more.  For more information, go to http://zorafestival.org

 

KRLemmons African American History, African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Children's literature, Resources

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

December 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela joined the ancestors.  He was a tireless leader for human rights and social justice.  He left a legacy, in words and in deeds, for us to emulate.

Some of his books are listed below:

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela                                                                                                                     How Far From Slaves We Come (co-written with Fidel Castro)                                                         In the Words of Nelson Mandela                                                                                  Conversations with Myself (co-written with Barack Obama)                                         Mandela’s Way (Lessons on Life, Love and Courage) co-written with Richard Stengel) Mandela: An Illustrated Autobiography

Children’s books on Nelson Mandela:                                                                                     Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson                                                                                             Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom by Chris van Wyk, Paddy Bouma

The Library of Congress has digital resources on Nelson Mandela.  Go to loc.gov and search “Nelson Mandela”

President Obama eloqently spoke on the passing of Nelson Mandela.  The link is below: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/12/05/president-obama-delivers-statement-passing-nelson-mandela

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Resources

Ann Petry and The Street

On this day, Ann Petry was born, and would later write a classic novel, The Street.  This novel explores issues of race, class, gender, motherhood, and more in 1940s Harlem.

A few resources are listed below.

NPR: http://www.npr.org/2008/06/16/91556698/an-unflinching-street-view-of-the-american-dream

PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americannovel/video/ANthestreet.html

Voices From the Gaps: http://voices.cla.umn.edu/artistpages/petryAnn.php

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Children's literature, Lesson Plans, Resources

Happy Birthday, Toni Morrison!

Toni Morrison was born February 18, 1931, in Lorain, Ohio.  For more information about this award-winning author, click on the following links:

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/m/toni-morrison.html

http://www.biography.com/people/toni-morrison-9415590

http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5262

For lesson plans and ideas for using Toni Morrison’s book, Beloved, click on Thinkfinity, and type in Beloved in the search box.